The Grenfell Inquiry report, released today, examined the devastating Grenfell fire of 2017, which claimed 72 lives and left survivors waiting for justice.
The Muslim Council of Britain is deeply shocked by the findings of the Grenfell Inquiry. The report is a damning indictment of systemic failures across government, building contractors, fire safety experts, and council staff.
The Inquiry Chair Sir Martin Moore-Bick has published a 1,700-page report with 58 recommendations, detailing how the building in west London came to be in such a deadly state.
The report reveals ‘decades of failure’ and ‘systemic dishonesty’ that led to this preventable tragedy. Residents were dismissed as ‘troublemakers,’ and the government was fully aware of the dangerous cladding. Shockingly, 4,630 buildings still have this hazardous material.
Responding to the inquiry, MCB Secretary-General Zara Mohammed, said:
“Today, we pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Grenfell fire—a tragedy that could have been avoided if those responsible for public safety had acted. The findings of the Grenfell Inquiry are both damning and heart-wrenching, exposing decades of neglect, corporate greed, and systemic failures that led to the loss of innocent lives.
The victims of Grenfell were abandoned by those in power. It was local heroes, especially the Al Manaar mosque, that provided sanctuary and support when public services and government failed to act.
Many of the victims were Muslims, and today we learn of the mistreatment they faced from the council, even during the holy month of Ramadan, where little to no provision of halal food was made. This highlights yet another failure in supporting minority and faith communities.
The families and communities affected by Grenfell now need justice. The government and public authorities must act on these recommendations, and those responsible must be held accountable. We cannot allow this tragedy to be forgotten or let those who died be disregarded.”
Key findings of the 1,700-page report include:
– A toxic relationship ‘fuelled by mistrust’ existed between residents and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), responsible for the running of Grenfell Tower.
– Successive governments, under David Cameron and Theresa May, received numerous warnings about the dangers of cladding materials between 2012 and 2017 but failed to act.
– Survivors felt “comprehensively failed” by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council and their Tenant Management Organisation.
– Emergency accommodation plans were “inconsistent,” with families crammed into single rooms and some residents left to sleep in cars or on the grass.
– The response of the government and local council was “muddled, slow, indecisive, and piecemeal,” with little done to cater to people from diverse backgrounds, including the failure to provide halal food for Muslims observing Ramadan.
– There was “persistent indifference” to fire safety at Grenfell Tower, with no finalised evacuation plan in place.